Margie’s Java Joint hosts first Drag Brunch as drag events, LGBTQIA+ resources expand in Greeley
Simon Hyperion reads to the children in the audience during the first Drag Brunch event Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020 at Margie's Java Joint, 931 16th St, in Greeley.
By Kelly Ragan
For Simone Perry, drag shows are more than entertainment. They’re a way to tell people that even if they’re different, they matter.
Perry, a drag king (yes, there are queens and kings) whose drag name is Simon Hyperion, said that’s what sticks out most about her performances.
“I meet people every time I do a drag show where people say they’ve lived in Greeley for their entire life, and they’ve never felt welcomed like that in that space before,” Perry said. “Had I known earlier there were other people having those questions, knowing I was allowed to experience those things, knowing I wasn’t abnormal or wrong, would have made an enormous difference.”
Perry started doing drag about two years ago, she said, when she started exploring her gender identity. She identifies as queer and agender.
What does that mean?
Generally queer means a sexual orientation that’s not exclusively heterosexual. It’s an umbrella term that can mean different things to different people.
Agender often translates to genderless, gender-neutral or having an undefineable gender.
Perry said that while in drag, she prefers he/him pronouns, but typically doesn’t care what pronouns people use. Outside of drag, she said the NoCo Optimist could use she/her pronouns.
Perry said that now that she’s been able to accept hemself, she wants to share that with others. The University of Northern Colorado has a long running drag show and a resource center, Perry said, which pleased her, but she didn’t see many resources available to the rest of the community.
Now it’s her mission, if you will. She began in January 2019, when she showed up to the Clearview Library in Windsor for the library’s Drag Queen Story Hour, an event that prompted protests and backlash.
Drag queen Eva Brooks speaks to crowd before her performance Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020 at Margie's Java Joint, 931 16th St, in Greeley. The performance was a part of Margie’s Drag Brunch.
Homophobia and transphobia are very real in Greeley and Weld County, Perry said, which is why things like drag shows are so important.
Perry helped establish monthly drag shows at Patrick’s Irish Pub downtown. When the world ground to a halt in March, Perry worked to set up online drag shows via Twitch.
Most recently, she made an appearance at Margie’s Java Joint’s first Drag Brunch, which featured a children’s story hour and live performances on Sunday.
Folks gathered on the patio Sunday even as the temperature creeped up. Some took shelter under umbrellas, while othersclutched iced coffees, avocado toasts and colorful smoothies. Others, somehow, still took sips of hot coffee as they looked on at the performers.
About one-third of the crowd was made up of UNC students. The rest were a smattering of young and old northern Colorado residents.
Perry read “I Am Enough,” by Grace Byers, as children leaned in to listen.
On Sunday, Perry said she wasn’t worried about safety at Margie’s. She wasn’t worried that the event would draw protests like it did in Windsor.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised with Greeley,” Perry said. “This is now the second story hour I’ve done in Greeley where we were met with open arms.”
Local drag queen Eva Brooks, whose real name is Jason Thompson, hosted and performed at Margie’s Drag Brunch.
Thompson said Greeley is more accepting than it was in 2008. The date is significant.
Paige Pecoraro helps drag queen Zimmorah Mei with her shoes before the Drag Brunch begins Sunday, Aug 23, 2020 at Margie's Java Joint, 931 16th St, in Greeley.
In 2008, Angie Zapata, 18, of Greeley, was killed by Allen Andrada, 31, when Andrada discovered Zapata was transgender.
He beat her to death with his fists and a fire extinguisher.
According to a report by the New York Times, Zapata dreamed of moving to Denver to become a professional drag queen.
The case was ruled a hate crime, and Andrade was sentenced to life in prison.
“Anti-queer groups seem to be losing influence in certain parts of the country,” Thompson said.
That’s good for drag, because, well, it’s supposed to be fun, Thompson said.
Thanks to drag, Thompson discovered he loved to make his own clothes. He makes his own gowns, and he’s also working on a peacoat for everyday wear. He enjoys the process of making a garment himself, being able to repair it, and being able to wear it for years.
“A lot of work went into the gown I was wearing on Sunday, even though I’m not technically done with it,” Thompson said. “I want it to be perfect.”
For more
Simon Hyperion will host two virtual drag shows in September. For a family friendly show, tune into twitch.tv/nocofm 6 p.m. Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.
To learn more about LGBTQIA+ support systems in Greeley and Weld County, check out the Weld County Queer Collective or the Prism Coalition.